South Sudan is the top-ranking African squad at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 after being ranked number 17 out of 32 teams in the classification to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Continue reading Bright Stars ranked best African squad at FIBA Basketball World Cup
Category: Sports
Albino Bol: Basketball fans left in Juba over lack of money
The national Minister of Youth and Sports said Sunday the South Sudan basketball fans who were supposed to travel to Manila last month, were left behind due to a lack of funds to facilitate their journey. Continue reading Albino Bol: Basketball fans left in Juba over lack of money
‘My legs were shaking’ at Madrid fans singing ‘Hey Jude’: Bellingham
Jude Bellingham said his legs were left “shaking” as Real Madrid fans serenaded him with The Beatles song ‘Hey Jude’ on Saturday. Continue reading ‘My legs were shaking’ at Madrid fans singing ‘Hey Jude’: Bellingham
South Sudan beat Angola, to represent Africa at Paris Olypmics
South Sudan have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after beating Angola by a 23-point margin as Egypt narrowly lost to New Zealand in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Continue reading South Sudan beat Angola, to represent Africa at Paris Olypmics
‘Bigger than basketball’: South Sudan win hearts, minds at World Cup
South Sudan has lurched from one crisis to another since winning independence in 2011, but the country’s basketball team are determined to “change the narrative” on the world stage.
South Sudan are competing at the Basketball World Cup, currently taking place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, and have won plaudits for their dynamic play and positive attitude on and off the court.
Playing in the tournament for the first time, they pulled off a historic win when they beat basketball-obsessed China 89-69 in their second game.
Their hopes of reaching the second round ended after a defeat to Serbia on Wednesday, but they still have the chance to claim a qualifying spot at next year’s Paris Olympics.
“We’re literally one, that’s what this basketball team stands for — for unity, a pathway for peace and development in the country, and just a way to change the narrative,” he said.
“For us, that’s why it’s so much more, so much bigger than basketball.”
The team are a mix of players with South Sudanese heritage and those born in the country.
Forward Nuni Omot was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, where his parents spent three years after travelling more than 400 miles to flee civil war in Ethiopia.
Two of the squad play in the United States, while the others are scattered around the world playing in leagues in Australia, Denmark, Taiwan, France, Belarus and Senegal.
American-born head coach Royal Ivey is an assistant for the Houston Rockets in the NBA.
The impetus for the team came from Luol Deng, a former NBA player who was born in Sudan and raised in London after his father, a former Sudanese government minister and political prisoner, was granted asylum by the United Kingdom.
Deng spent 15 years in the NBA before becoming president of South Sudan’s basketball federation after he retired.
– National unity –
The team played their first official international game only six years ago, but Kuany says they have captured the South Sudanese public’s imagination, with crowds gathering to watch their team on giant screens in the capital Juba.
“The reason why this is so important and means a lot is because we have so much division, a lot of trouble and a lot of conflict going on in our country,” he said.
“Whenever the basketball team plays, it’s literally the only time that everybody comes together.
“There’s no more tribes — ‘I’m from so-and-so region’ — everyone is wearing the same flag and that’s South Sudan.”
The team’s first-round results mean they are out of title contention but they can still grab a spot at the Paris Olympics if they finish as the tournament’s highest-placed African team.
That would be a remarkable achievement for a team whose only previous international tournament was the 2021 African championships.
Guard Sunday Dech, who was born in Ethiopia and moved to Australia as a child, believes the team is only just getting started.
“We’re not satisfied, we want to keep going and it’s going to be piece by piece,” he said.
“We’ll come back stronger and better for tomorrow’s game and the next game after that and the tournament after that too.”
South Sudan play co-hosts the Philippines in their first game in the classification round on Thursday.
Regardless of the result, Ivey says they are already winning the battle for hearts and minds.
“They come together, they unite, and through basketball we share the vision of camaraderie, friendship, love, sportsmanship, togetherness,” he said.
“That’s what my players emulate every day when they step out on that court.”
S Sudan beats Philippines, seeks one win for Paris Olympics
The South Sudan national basketball team has beaten the Philippines 87 to 68 in the ongoing qualification for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. Continue reading S Sudan beats Philippines, seeks one win for Paris Olympics
Nasir FC-Juba President resigns, says more to quit over football mismanagement
The President of Nasir FC Juba has resigned and warned that many senior officials might follow to exit over the mismanagement of football activities in Juba.
Continue reading Nasir FC-Juba President resigns, says more to quit over football mismanagement
Why Bright Stars must win against Philippines
South Sudan basketball team must win the game against the Philippines to secure a chance to qualify for the Olympic games in Paris 2024 today afternoon.
Continue reading Why Bright Stars must win against Philippines
El-Merriekh FC appeals to CES govt, stakeholders to finance Angola trip
El-Merriekh FC Juba has appealed to the government of Central Equatoria State and stakeholders to fund their trip to Angola for the second-round match on 15 September. Continue reading El-Merriekh FC appeals to CES govt, stakeholders to finance Angola trip
Iniesta, Laporta criticise Rubiales ahead of new suspension decision
Influential figures including Spanish football great Andres Iniesta and Barcelona president Joan Laporta continued to mount criticism on federation president Luis Rubiales on Sunday, ahead of a potential government sanction against the suspended Spain chief. Continue reading Iniesta, Laporta criticise Rubiales ahead of new suspension decision